A CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
Hal stood up and looked about him, feeling still dazed. Shouts filled
the engine-room, and figures were hurrying to and fro. Suddenly the
voice of "Old Yank" rang out clear:
"Boys," he said hoarsely, "this here ship's done for right away ef we're
not precious slippy. That 'ere shaft'll be breaking clean away with the
next big roll, and will sweep the whole room. Bustle there, and let's
get cables and anything that's handy to shear things up. Here, Masters,
skip off, and see what's to be had."
The latter, who was behind the massive pillar that supported one end of
the cylinders, started for the ladder.
"I'll help," cried Hal. "Hold on, Masters; I'll come with you."
"So; that aer the way--that aer the style of grit," answered the young
engineer. "Come along then," he continued; "there's precious little time
ter lose. That shaft has cracked the base of the big pillar, and ef
another of those rolls catches her, she'll carry away every cylinder in
the place."
He ran up the ladder, and Hal followed, feeling at first so stiff and
sore that he could scarcely move.
"We want cables badly," said Masters. "Look here, Marchant, I'll skip
along for'ard while you go aft. Find the quartermaster, and get him to
help you. If he's my way I'll send for you, and if not I'll return.
Savvey? Then off, and mind your toes as you cross the decks, for I've
heard that there has been a clean sweep."
Turning on his heel, he groped his way along the passage, clinging to
the rail to keep himself upon his feet. Hal went in the opposite
direction, until he reached the alleyway, which led to the well-deck.
And here another sight was presented to him.
"A clean sweep, as Masters said," he murmured. "Derricks the only things
remaining, and not a sign of bulwarks. Ah! it's going to be a nasty
place to cross."
Of this there could be no doubt, for the waist of the ship had filled to
overflowing as she lay on her beam ends, and on righting, the water had
torn the rails away on either side, and hurled overboard everything that
was not built into the frame of the ship, or securely bolted to it. Only
the derrick engine remained in the center, and Hal looked across a level
sweep of wet and soppy deck between himself and the poop. At that moment
an enormous wave curled over the side, and fell with all its force upon
the _Mohican_. She shivered at the blow, and then recovering, reared her
bows high in the air, sending the water rushing across the waist and
over the side. Now was the time, and Hal made the most of it. He darted
from the alleyway and raced across the slippery deck. Bump! The
_Mohican_ buried her bows deep in the sea, and at once a fresh wave rose
high in the air, to fall with a crash upon the deck.
It was a moment of peril, and Hal sprang towards the derrick engine,
and, passing his arms through the spokes of the fly-wheel, clung there
with might and main. Instantly he was buried in a foaming mass of water.
His limbs were almost pulled from his body, so great was the drag, but
just as his strength was exhausted, the ship lurched and tossed the
water off. A minute later Hal gained the poop, and clambered upon it by
means of the hydrant pipes, for the ladders had long since gone
overboard.
"Now for the quartermaster," he gasped.
He crossed to the deck-house, and pulled open a door. It shut to upon
him with a bang, and he was precipitated across the narrow cabin.
"Hallo! What's up?" cried a man who was seated on the floor in one
corner, busily preparing some lashings. "One of the greasers! What is
it, lad?"
"I want some lengths of cable for the engine-room," Hal answered. "The
propeller shaft has broken, and the cylinders may carry away. Can you
help me?"
"Help! Why, I'm full up with work already," the quartermaster replied,
"but ef yer want cables there's plenty of ten-foot lengths under the
floor, in the lockers. Now you can see to it yourself, though how on
airth you're going ter get 'em across to the engines is more than I can
guess."
Hal knelt at the opening in the floor, and laboriously dragged five
lengths of cable out.
"That's about all you'll manage," said the quartermaster. "You'd better
get along with them."
"That will keep them from slipping when she rolls," he said to himself.
"And now to get them across. They're heavy. Ah, I have it; a piece of
rope will settle the matter."
He dived into the locker again, and finding a long cord, he at once
passed it through the last link of the cables. Then he ran across to the
edge of the poop, and having dragged them after him, he prepared to
cross again to the alleyway.
"It's got to be done," Hal muttered. "Here goes!"
He dropped to the waist, and at once commenced to run across. Crash! A
monstrous wave bumped on board, and catching him midway across the deck,
washed him dangerously near the side; but a roll of the ship sent it in
another direction, and gathering pace as the _Mohican_ suddenly shot
her bows into the air, the mass of water carried Hal aft, and finally
flung him down, breathless, at the entrance of the alleyway.
"By George, that was a near one!" said Masters, who was standing near.
"You're always in the wars. First you get smashed up by the shaft, and
now you nearly sail overboard. Look here, if I hadn't gripped hold of
your collar that time, you'd be a hundred yards astern by this. Hallo!
What's this?"
"That? Oh, that's the rope I made fast to the cables," exclaimed Hal,
struggling to his feet, to find that he still retained the length of
cord in his hand.
"Tell you what, Marchant," said Masters, "for a greaser, and a green 'un
aboard a ship, you walk right off with the prize! It takes no small
allowance of grit ter do that rope trick. Come along, now; the 'chief'
is waiting for the cables."
He shook Hal's hand heartily, then helped him to haul the cables to the
engine-room.
"Good boys!" said the chief engineer, coming towards them. "Where did
you get a hold of them?"
"He did it," answered Masters, pointing to Hal. "I can tell you, sir,
that he has grit. He just clung to the rope after going across to the
poop, and when I saw him he was within an inch of being over the side.
He got caught by a sea, and got badly flung about. But still he hung on
to the rope, and that's how it is that you see the cables here so soon."
"So; aer that so?" said the "chief." "Reckon you're a good 'un, young
Marchant. I don't forget as it wur you as turned the steam off the old
girl. Ef it wasn't fer that we'd all be down below by this. Wall, this
aint the time fer gassing, but 'Old Yank' won't let it slip, and when
the time comes round we'll let the right folks know. Now, you had better
skip, and fetch a second heap. We shall want them, and more. Look extry
slippy, boys, while we get these bits fixed."
Hal and Masters sprang to the ladder again, and prepared to cross the
waist in search of more cables. There was little time to lose, for as
they stood in the engine-room both had noticed a big crack in the
massive pillar that supported the cylinders. The end of the propeller
shaft had evidently struck it a tremendous blow, and had fractured it.
"It looks very nasty," said Masters, as they climbed to the alleyway;
"and ef the old girl rolls like she did when the shaft went, why, it'll
be a case of all up. We'd better hurry up."
They stood at the opening of the alleyway for a few moments then raced
across the deck. This time Hal was more fortunate, for he, as well as
his companion, escaped injury. They reached the poop in safety, and were
soon hauling out more cable. A rope was run through the end links as
before, and they started to return.
"Now's the time, and mind you run for it," exclaimed Masters, lowering
himself to the waist.
Darting across as rapidly as he could, Hal had gained the shelter he
aimed at before Masters was halfway there, and he turned just in time to
see his companion caught by a mighty wave which came aboard at that
moment. It hoisted the poor fellow high in the air, tossing him from his
feet. Then it swept him along and dashed him violently against the
corner of the alleyway. Hal just managed to grasp his coat as the water
receded, and dragged him into the shelter. But Masters was badly hurt,
for there was a long red seam along the side of his head, and he was
bleeding profusely.
Picking him up, Hal carried him to the cabin and laid him on one of the
bunks.
"Now for the rope and the cables," he said.
Stepping into the alleyway, he was retracing his steps when the
_Mohican_ rose high in the air, trembled violently as a sea struck her,
and at once rolled heavily on to her beam ends.
"Good gracious! that will finish it!" exclaimed Hal. "Ah, what was
that?"
A loud crash reached his ears, coming from the open door of the
engine-room. He ran to the entrance and swarmed down the ladder.
Once more he was to see a sight that seldom meets the eye. The chief
engineer had feared the effect of another roll, and though this one had
lasted for only a few seconds, and the _Mohican_ was now back in a more
or less upright position, yet the sudden movement, the weight of so much
metal thrown violently to one side, had proved too great a strain upon
the fractured pillar. It had given way, and had carried the cylinders
with it, the whole was bringing up against one of the massive ribs of
the ship. One sharp angle, projecting beyond this support, had struck
the steel plates and ripped them open.
A fountain of water spurted in as Hal reached the engine-room, swamping
the place. Turning his eyes to other parts, he saw that the disaster was
even greater than it at first seemed, for lying upon the floor were
three greasers, while the "chief" was huddled at the foot of the broken
pillar. At this moment Mr. Broom emerged from the stoke-hole.
"What a calamity!" he cried. "We are doomed. Nothing can save the
_Mohican_. The next roll will shake those cylinders free, and then they
will go through the side to the bottom, and we must follow. We are
under-manned as it is, and now so many of our hands have been injured
that we are helpless. What is to be done?"
He clung to the rail which surrounded the crank-pit, and looked
despairingly at Hal.
"They are the same on deck," the latter answered. "The quartermaster
told me that four of the hands had been swept overboard, while others
had been seriously injured. But, wait. You want helpers, sir? Why not
call upon the passengers? There are about forty aboard."
"The very thing!" cried the third engineer. "The work we want done can
be managed by anyone with courage and muscle. Cut off, Marchant, and see
what you can do. I shall be surprised if the whole lot don't volunteer
to a man."
Hal at once darted up the ladder again, and, reaching the alleyway,
turned to the right, and entered the big dining saloon. It was filled
with ladies and gentlemen, the former reclining on the settees which ran
round the side, while the latter were gathered in a group in the center
discussing the probable fate of the ship. Hal at once walked up to them
and dropped into a seat, for it was difficult to keep on one's feet
owing to the movement of the ship.
"What is it? Has something more terrible happened?" asked a tall
gentleman, who occupied the center of the group. "I suppose we must
prepare for the worst?"
"No; I think not," Hal answered. "Gentlemen, I am sorry to have to bring
you bad news. The propeller shaft broke, and before steam could be cut
off the main support of the engines was fractured, and now the ship is
in the greatest danger; for the cylinders have crashed against the side,
and have made a large rent in the plates. If the wreck is not secured
and the hole made tight, we shall certainly founder. The last roll the
ship made completed the break."
"Then it is bad news!" exclaimed one of the passengers. "What will
become of us all?"
"Wait; let us hear what this young fellow has to tell us," said the
first speaker. "Perhaps he has something to propose."
"I have," Hal replied. "All our engine-room hands are injured, and we
want help. Will any of the passengers volunteer?"
"Yes, here is one," exclaimed the tall passenger. "Here is a strong arm
and a ready will. Command me, and I will do all that I can."
"And I, and I," came from each of the others in quick succession.
"You see that all are ready," said the first speaker, whose name was Mr.
Brindle. "Now, what can we do?"
Hal thought for a moment before answering. Then he turned to the
passengers and said:
"It is likely to be a long job, and therefore I propose that you divide
into two parties--the first to commence work at once, and the others to
come down in two hours' time. The first party had better bring all the
blankets and bedding they can. We shall want something with which to
stop the rent."
He rose from his seat, and staggered out.
"Well," said Mr. Broom, as our hero swung himself on to the floor below,
"what luck?"
"They have volunteered to a man."
"I thought they would," was the satisfied answer. "But how are we to
employ them? Tell you what, Marchant, some of the passengers will have
to set to trimming. We've been taking coal from the starboard bunker,
and this side is full, so that it will all have to be put over to the
other. Will you boss the gang? I'm the only officer left down here, and
most of the greasers have been hurt. I'll look to the engines, and will
shear them up, if you'll take the other job."
"I'll do my best," said Hal. "Ah, here they come."
At that moment fifteen passengers began to descend the long ladder, each
carrying a roll of blankets under his arm.
"Hallo, what's this?" the engineer exclaimed. "Bedding! What's that
for?"
"I thought you'd want something to plug the rent," said Hal. "Don't you
think it might do?"
"Do! Of course it will! Young fellow, you've a head on those shoulders.
You're a puzzle. Do! Here, pile it all over by the dynamo; and let me
thank you now, gentlemen, for the manner in which you have come
forward."
"Not a bit of it," answered Mr. Brindle. "We're here for our own sakes
as well as yours; though I own that we should have volunteered in any
case. Now, what are we to do?"
"Put yourselves in his hands," said Mr. Broom. "He's shown that he has a
head; he's got no end of pluck, too. Take your orders from him, and
you'll be doing your very best for all hands."
He waved to the volunteers, and at once went to a group of stokers and
greasers near by. Hal turned to the stoke-hole without a word, and,
passing through the tunnel between the boilers, entered the place set
aside for coal. It was divided down the center by a bulkhead, which
reached from the floor to the deck above for the greater length of the
bunker, but was cut down to a height of four feet some six yards from
the door.
"Now, gentlemen," said Hal, "all this coal wants to be moved to the
other side so as to check the list. I propose that a few toss the stuff
down from above, while the others pitch it over the bulkhead."
A minute later all were engaged, plying the implements as if they had
been accustomed to them and to no others all their lives.
"We'll have a breather now," said Hal, an hour after he and his comrades
had set to work. "Let us have a five minutes' interval, and then at it
again, for you will do better if you have a short rest."
The trimming gang stood there breathing heavily, and making the utmost
of the respite. Some sat down upon heaps of coal, while others leaned
against the sides, and placing their hands upon their hips, supported
them there, as if their weight was too much for them.
"Time's up, gentlemen. We'd better set to again," said Hal.
"My hat, sir, but you are a stern taskmaster," cried Mr. Brindle, giving
vent to a hearty laugh. "Here are we poor fellows ready to drop, and you
give us a bare five minutes. But the lad is right. Gentlemen, think of
the lives depending upon us."
An hour later the second batch of volunteers descended, and replaced the
first, but Hal and Mr. Brindle remained at work.
All day long the two parties took it in turns to labor in the
coal-bunker, and when night came, Hal was able to dismiss his gang, and
inform Mr. Broom that the task was finished.
"Good!" exclaimed the latter. "Your fellows have worked like bricks, and
have well earned a sleep. You, too, had better get one. Cut along up to
your bunk, and leave this to me. I'm used to long hours, and will keep
watch below. The _Mohican_ is steering now. That sea-anchor is
overboard, and we're able to keep fairly clear of water. Now, off you
go."
He waved to the ladder, and Hal at once took his advice. He was, indeed,
worn out with his labors, for all day long he had shoveled coal, till
the skin was worn off his hands. Accordingly, he did not argue with the
"third," but, going to the ladder, climbed to the alleyway. He went to a
locker, and finding the remains of a loaf, tore a portion off, and went,
munching it, to his bunk. Less than five minutes later he was so sound
asleep that he would have slept the clock round had not a violent thirst
from the coal-dust he had inhaled caused him to leave his bed in search
of something to drink.